A leaky 12-inch water main on White Lake Road near Andersonville Road will cost Independence Township more than $35,000.

First reported on Jan. 8, the Independence Township Department of Public Works had to call a contractor to repair the leaking main because it required larger equipment than the department had.

DPW Director Linda Richardson said the work was offered to local companies. A Davisburg contractor Carnwath Excavating was selected to do the work.

Richardson said because Carnwath had a yard on Andersonville Road, the work crews were able to mobilize quickly to begin repair work.

The repair was completed on Jan. 13 at total costs of just over $20,000 to Carnwath, but Richardson said the total cost of the project will be more in the long run after bills come in for other work associated with the project.

Items from the works that still needs to be paid for include traffic signs and cones, backfill, soil removal and a temporary road repair.

In order to cover the cost of the repairs Richardson requested a budget amendment of $40,000 because a repair budget was not included in the 2014 budget.

Richardson said in previous years the DPW budgeted for repairs, but doing so created an "over budget" situation so emergency contingencies were not included in the latest budget.